cottonseed stitches

to remind me.

2010-03-29T02:24:00.000-07:00

so i didn't know where to start. i went to the blogs that really touched me in the past... spirit cloth and gerdiary. i picked up some feeling and started making something. it's going to be a wall cloth for the wall by my bedroom door. so when i walk out my bedroom i can see it. right now it's called WARM SUM. i took photos today, but it's REALLY late and i am too lazy to go get on the front computer and upload them.

my oldest son also bought me a camera the other day! YAY! hopefully i will take better photos... and if i don't... there's no more excuse.

☽cottonseed

it's time...

2010-03-29T01:35:00.000-07:00

it's been 7 months since i lost my friend. she was like a sister to me. we grew up together. had babies together. had man problems together. we supported each other. i had not been able to even look at this page. i had not picked up a needle for months. i packed all my stuff away and just tried to figure it all out.

i started sewing again last week. well actually a month ago when Corina's husband came by and asked me to sew buttons on his jacket. we sat and talked. we've talked regularly since her passing and now it's about every two weeks.

i miss her so much. i can pick up my needles and thread and my scissors again.

my outlook has changed. i feel like i can hear her loud laugh and her telling me to get on with it. she was so crazy and always told it like it was...

so picking up where it stopped. i don't know what else to write, but i had to write something.

☽ cottonseed

Corina

2009-08-31T00:23:00.000-07:00

Corina I love you...

I lost a very close friend last Tuesday night. I am still in shock. I love her so much.

Corina · December 15, 1970 - August 26th, 2009

little shack in the desert

2009-08-26T00:09:00.001-07:00

some new additions to the light-ness block...
a little needle-turned barrel cactus flowering yellow... wavy stitched earth. i'd like to add some beige to the earth waves, but i don't have any beige floss, only cotton crochet thread. me thinks it would be too thick. i may tea dye some of the off white floss to use.

a little embroidered shack. maybe some black outline to pull it out. or maybe leave it as is to blend.
the distant flower stitched around the petals with cotton quilting thread. i hope to make it a sun with some golden yellow floss.

the tea dyed denim and calico. the denim is really raggedy. thinking about leaving as is or may trim up a bit.
a chance ghostly blur photo and i thought of ger :)

I am a man of constant sorrow
I've seen trouble all my day.
I bid farewell to old Kentucky
The place where I was born and raised.

For six long years I've been in trouble
No pleasures here on earth I found
For in this world I'm bound to ramble
I have no friends to help me now.

It's fare thee well my old lover
I never expect to see you again
For I'm bound to ride that northern railroad
Perhaps I'll die upon this train.

You can bury me in some deep valley
For many years where I may lay
Then you may learn to love another
While I am sleeping in my grave.

Maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger
My face you'll never see no more.
But there is one promise that is given
I'll meet you on God's golden shore.

--Dick Burnett

lightness

2009-08-24T11:13:00.000-07:00

after being in a sort of dark night of the soul for several days, this block of scraps came together. of course the pictures are horrible, but maybe the lightness can be seen. i used some of the natural dyed fabrics from several weeks ago and some scraps that were in storage.

i knew i had a very heavy attraction to old fabrics, but i didn't know why until reading this at what if. there is so much more definition to the prints. sewing on the old flower print fabric in this block was like contemplating a painting up close.

-- 70's cotton flower print, yellow gingham from pair of my daughter's sunpants, tea dyed denim, tea dyed calico, saffron muslin, a favorite yellow flower calico, edges left to get ragged

spending time

2009-08-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

doing nothing... watching scientists contemplate the universe on tv. getting things sorted out a bit.
before my respite, spent time looking at art nouveau items. that art style is so beautiful. also revisiting 1930's culture/history.
i forget life is here to do what you want sometimes.

one week?

2009-08-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

when i'm feeling funky, i wonder why in the hell do i have a blog(s)? what real purpose can these things really serve?

when i get into an emotional stupor, they serve good purpose. reading back what i was thinking with 'timestamp' puts clarity on the situation. i see that within one week i went from having one of the greatest craft experiences to stopping everything. ok what really happened. it seemed longer than one week. my mind playing tricks on me. seems like an overreaction to compensate for my not wanting to deal with some other family stuff. maybe.

difficulties

2009-08-16T12:08:00.000-07:00

alot has been going on many different levels. my sister and my nieces left last week to return home. my sister being 8 1/2 months pregnant traveling halfway across the country with my 19 year old daughter for company was a bit worrisome and stressful. this added another layer to the extreme sadness i felt in missing them.
i've also been aware of all the rules and limits and boxes i rigidly align myself with. at the same time, i have an abhorrence for extremes and absolutes. i have an ability to split myself into many parts. at times these parts operate while my cognizant self pretends there are no other parts. and then after a build up of stress and pressure from operating this way, it all comes crashing down. this time there was no big crash, just me recognizing that something wasn't right. it seemed that everything i did was just getting to be too hard. there was no natural flow to things. when my sewing gets like that, i just stop. and since this is a big joy in my life, it is usually a signal i can recognize that things are out of wack.
so i've been just chilling out and exploring what makes me happy. and recognizing that what makes me happy may not make others happy and dealing with that.
i did make several blocks before this 'rest'. the fish, i had been seeing and hearing about fish all over the place. sharks on tv, my granddaughter wanting to play fishing, exploring the music of phish... after making this roughly put together fish out of odds n ends and the rainbow swirls, i found the poem by rumi, the three fish. i thought this fish may be the wise fish, illuminating it's own way with a rainbow song.
the second block, i'd been wanting to applique a raised moon. turned out to be a blue moon. and the blue moon cast it's blue light on the lonely desert landscape save a row of desert brush. it needs more, it looks way too simple, but i don't know what to add yet. maybe the quilting will fill it out a little more. maybe do the quilting before i applique more. i originally had additional layers of blue fabrics for depth to the landscape. maybe i should re-do.
well i will get to them sometime in the future...

in the garden

2009-08-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

i made this yesterday. this was the first time i sat down and just started sewing without any idea of what i wanted to make. i'm amazed. it was one of the most fun times i've had sewing. it was so smooth, the time just flew by. i didn't feel anxious like i usually do. i realized the need to constantly get it "just right" was absent. since there was nothing in mind, i couldn't get it wrong. i just removed stitches that did not feel right and moved on. i also challenged myself to use fabrics and colors i am not attracted to or would normally use. the base fabric is one i don't particularly like except that it was from a bedcover from my childhood. i don't know where this design came from and i'm so amazed that it appeared. thinking about this makes me feel bubbly inside. :) hahahahahha i don't if this block is appealing to the eye, i can't be objective about it because of how great a time i had. :) later on today i plan to add the words "and in the garden, there was life." ~~when my son comes to visit, i hope to take a better photo to add here.~~

i enjoyed:
--quilting the little invisible stitches over the 'little cables' in the fabric. was calming and gave more weight.
--little black stitches over the pink rick rack on the edges.
--the couching over the tree trunk and star cross stitches.
--the quilting on the flowers

i cut a square from one of my son's old sweatshirts for the 'batting'.

tea dyed nine patch

2009-08-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

before and after (after and before) experiment with tea dye on a random nine patch i pieced together. the tea gave it a weathered old look and feel. the edges around the center patch were left raw and after dyeing turned a greenish brown. at first i thought it was too dark. it was only in the tea for several hours. but against a dark olive corduroy it looked very nice. also i think it has lightened in weeks since done. or maybe i am just used to it. now what to do with this?

arrowheads and wagon wheels

2009-08-03T13:48:00.000-07:00

this is my sampler for the 3rd and 5th week of this second half of the tast. really it's the arrow and buttonhole wheel stitches. they came out super WONKY. i don't think i was really into it this week. i might do another sampler to get it to my satisfaction... or maybe not. i need to draw straight lines for the arrows and circles for the wheels in order to get them to look decent. i really like the wheels that are double stitched, especially the one with the yarn.

dyed fabric results

2009-08-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

these are the remnants of fabrics dyed with the safflower and tea bags. this is how they look dried. the feel of the fabric has changed. it is a little stiffer and heavier, which is good for me. i am thinking of making myself a hip length smock with pattern simplicity2731 in the unbleached muslin and dyeing it with the safflower. the pattern is for a nightgown, but it reminds me of the oaxaca shirts and dresses.

that reminds me to put a link in the side bar for taller flora pdf book. it's a study on mexican indian dress and the use of geometric shapes to put them together. this facilitates little cutting/tearing of fabric as the shapes are woven in the size needed.

feel my heart

2009-08-02T17:42:00.000-07:00

(wardrobe project)
this is an old coin purse that was in the craft bags. i just needed to finish attaching the patch to it for it to be finished.

cotton quilting calico
red felt
white embroidery thread
my own pattern

olive messenger bag

2009-08-02T17:25:00.000-07:00

(wardrobe project)
i'm still waffling over putting an applique (a tree or some type of nature scene) on the flap. i'm afraid it won't come out the way i'd hope it would. i need to work on that and allow the design to evolve for itself.
i really like the bag. even though it's been finished now for several days, i just this morning transferred my stuff into it for everyday use. the strap is really comfortable and i wear it slung across my chest. i'm also deciding on whether to add closures.

olive corduroy
unbleached muslin lining
poly/cotton thread
my own pattern

lady in the canyon - af

2009-08-01T01:07:00.000-07:00

artwork friday - lady in the canyon with snake woman

cc license

catching up

2009-07-31T12:43:00.000-07:00

between being sick again (the flu made the rounds of the house and visited me twice) and the computer not being fully fixed, I've been bedridden and off the internet. i did not get my tast done for the week or have the energy to work on much of anything. thank goodness my sister was here to help with the kids.
as soon as i felt better though, i was of course hungry to sew. most of my craft supplies, wips and fabric arrived several days ago and were sitting in bags. i was anxious to go through them and that was a double edged sword. with so many more fabric options i felt confused and indecisive. when i had little to choose from to work with, it was easier to think about getting started. but i am glad to be aware of what is going on and i think calming down and not letting myself get crazy about goals again may allow all that to dissipate.
my first night feeling better, i made a simple messenger bag out of a dark green corduroy i bought from Deseret. the jean purse, i have decided to add more fabric to the bottom to make larger. maybe a patchwork piece. i knew there was something up with it, but i could not put my finger on it at the time. i also completed two wips. they were small... two coin purses, but it's good to get them done. i made a list in my journal of all my wips and i am thinking of making a list for the sidebar for them. new way of thinking of wips--> they've just been set aside for now. maybe call them sa's or something. less stressful and work centered. and with my sister here, i've seen that in our family there is a strong compunction to associate goodness and worth with how much you do. i guess that is with many families.
found these quotes before i got sick and i've been thinking about them a lot:

"The conscious purpose of science is control of Nature; its unconscious effect is disruption and chaos." -- William Irwin Thompson

“I don’t see much sense in that,” said Rabbit. “No,” said Pooh humbly, “There isn’t. But there was going to be when I began it. It’s just that something happened to it along the way.”

"So I earn a living by producing merchandisable manifestations of portions of my imagination."
~Frank Zappa

experimenting scrap pink

2009-07-22T14:19:00.001-07:00

i stumbled onto the stitching technique of sashiko early this morning. i've seen and admired it many times, but i was not aware of the name, the technique, the patterns and it's purposes. i love the texture and the repeating pattern, but a bonus is the strength and reinforcement it gives the fabric. i read it is also akin to weaving in a way.

so i tried it out with what i have on hand. i really like it. i love the way it feels in my hands. and i love the weight it gained as i progressed. at first it was a little unwieldy, i think i had too much thread on the needle. it kept getting twisted and tightening up. for me, the key was to keep it very loose. when sewing i have pretty snug tension.

i also came upon these terms i have skimmed over --> kogin · zokin · boro furoshiki · boro · pojagi

found here, here, here and here.

tea and safflower

2009-07-22T04:59:00.001-07:00

i've not had the regular use of a computer for about a week now. should not seem as long as it did. i was so excited last night to have unintterupted access that i uploaded almost 100 photos to my flickr account. i found them on the old computer my son brought over as a replacement. i also remembered (finally) the username and password for an old image hosting account that i've had since 2002. i think now in hindsight i may have gone a little overboard. :)

i'm suffering from serious insomnia again. my mind has been racing and i've not been able to turn it off. this on top of my being sick with a 72 hr flu bug. i've been a mess. i'm wound up tighter than a drum and i'm not sure why. tonight (this morning?) i rinsed out these little scrap fabrics i had been test dyeing for about 2 days. i found this link at a moveable feast and i cut corners and came up with this. i like the colors. the orange is a light pumpkin tone and the tea dyed scraps have an aged quality. i've read elsewhere tannic acid in tea weakens fabric, but i'm not going to worry about that right now.

i also finished the sheaf stitch for the TAST challenge. it was rather hurriedly done, but i enjoyed making the stitches. they reminded me of bound up arrows.

[notes --> use 1 tsp +/- safflower, washed fabrics with soap rinsed, alum bath/soaked 1/2 tsp to bit of water in bowl, 2 tea bags, boiled water tea and fabric together in bottle in microwave to get started, let sit for 2 days or so]

Summer of '76

2009-07-15T16:33:00.000-07:00

(~~apologies up front if the pictures are too close up -- they are hurting my eyes some. but maybe it's my weary eyes~~ i changed the photo sizes)

[part of the wardrobe project -- first item constructing for wardrobe additions]

with this jean bag, i am finally making something that is purely for me. not already made and then i decide to take it. it is deliberately made in the fashion that i desire. i have been taking my time weighing out what feels right and what matches up to what i have in my mind. i am not rushing on this one. i see that if i haven't finished an item quickly enough, i felt inept. well this one has been days in the making and i have really enjoyed the handstitching and embroidery. it is still not finished, but i have decided to go ahead and put it together anyway. i am going to use it and keep adding other elements. just like i did with the purse this one is inspired by... from the 6th grade 1976.

next -- denim skirt apron.

Sheaf Stitch

2009-07-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

note to me --> this week TAST stitch is the sheaf stitch. instructions here.

what i would wear

2009-07-14T15:59:00.000-07:00

i've come across these beautiful photos by http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorimarsha/ (thank you lori). the outfits she puts together are AMAZING. i see types of clothes that i would feel comfortable wearing... smocks, layers, aprons, capris, leggings... and all of these mean comfort, utility and ease on my 40+ figure.

so making myself a wardrobe actually seems doable. and so i've been focused on 'sketching out' and making myself several items. [also searching out thrifts]

summary below↓

necessary attributes: utility cotton linen strong comfortable loose expressive earth

utility as in pockets, breathable

objective: to look nice, comfortable for sewing etc., taking the kids out for walks, ease in cleaning

the Canyon

2009-07-12T03:03:00.000-07:00

[note for me -- i wrote down some words at day dreaming. a glimpse of an other world.]

Bullion Stitch

2009-07-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

[bullion stitch on cloth napkin -- purple - 2 strand · bright pink, light green and gold - 3 strand · light and dark blue - 4 strand · bright orange - 6 strand]

i just could not figure this stitch out on my own. i had to find video to help me. and even after that, i still had to keep referring to it every so often. i just randomly started stitching. looks kind of caribbean stylee. :) i like the shinyness of this stitch.

also for note -- can be used for the inside filler for small leaves. bullion first, outline after.

What Was I Doing Again? and thank you

2009-07-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

been crocheting and knitting for several days. then i thought... it's summer, i can put this off for a while. i don't even know how i started it up so fiercely again. i had started on a general project of attempting to make some things that i could wear or use now. my wardrobe is severely lacking so (once again) i'd embarked on making things for me to wear, but as usual i have not gotten to far. i get off track so easily, forgetting what the original goal was. [maybe a future post on ideas to help me stay focused?] i wanted to spruce myself up a bit. add some things that would bring color. i am a blue jean, t-shirt and tennis shoe/moccasins/sandals gal. i don't think i've worn a short skirt in years. i did make some long skirts last year, but they are not appropriate for summer. i really like long skirts. maybe i'll attempt several. wow this is rambling...

i also had a surprise last night. i desired some inspiration and feel good vibes, so i went to one of the blogs i visit that uplift me and inspire me and i saw a link to my blog! it is on gerdiary! i could hardly believe my eyes! i LOVE her work and her writings very much... i actually became frightened, clicked off quickly, and left the computer and sat down dazed on the couch. hahahahaha i am so severely shy that all kinds of things ran through my mind. she must be a very nice person, as i have never commented on her page or anything. i have wanted to, but i have not commented on any blog, save one on how to comment on people's blogs, ironically. :) after writing this, i am going to go comment and thank her. :)

my medicine

2009-07-05T19:58:00.000-07:00

one of the knitted wrist bands made the night before and a suede finger cuff. if only i could take pictures well.
came across this site, spent about a one half hour there.
missed 'small stitch saturday' this weekend... i'll say it was because of the holiday.

soothed

2009-07-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

last night i was wrapped up tighter than a drum. someone had [maybe] misunderstood my need for solitude and made fun of me for it. this someone knows me very well so it was hard to understand the misunderstanding. i took it as an attack. it was complicated, yet simple. i looked back upon myself so angry scared and fearful and prescribed a useful remedy. make something. i knitted 2 arm bands and made 1 of these earrings. i also finished a facecloth i had set aside several days ago, treated myself to 3 epidsodes of ufo hunters on youtube, and stayed up alone until the sun rose.

Square Blue :peace:

2009-07-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

Blue is my favorite color. I feel peace when I see watery blue. different blues, whites and a light purple here. Goes in 'what do I do with file'.

Square Blue

2009-07-01T13:45:00.001-07:00

a patch of recycled blues with random stitching in progress. old denim:calico. to add with/to the this wip?

Expanding

2009-07-01T02:45:00.000-07:00

Whosoever wishes to know about the world must learn about it in its particular details.
Knowledge is not intelligence.
In searching for the truth be ready for the unexpected.
Change alone is unchanging.
The same road goes both up and down.
The beginning of a circle is also its end.
Not I, but the world says it: all is one.
And yet everything comes in season.
[-Heraklietos of Ephesos]

- - -
This is to document a shift. A shift in my perception. It's a little strange, I cannot grasp what is taking place. It is voluntary, but not painful. Usually when I let go of something there is pain in each little action that comes up to remind of what I have let go of. This time it does not feel like that.

I am learning just for the sake of learning. Not to get to somewhere or to get something. I have an end in mind, but it's not the same obsessive driving force. It's only been a couple of days, but right now there is a lot going on. A resistance/resentment I've been harboring is gone. Right now I feel open to beauty. And beauty is a process, not a thing.

After all the painful confusion of the past on this subject, I feel peace about it.

-I came across this post on the blog ~~Entwinements~~ Red Thread Studio [edit: oops I must have been doing too many things at once here :/ ] about Slow Cloth after reading the most recent post at Spirit Cloth.
- I've been reading up on color and perception and communication.
-I've been playing around with color. Colors I would normally not use.
-Reading about beauty and taste..
-Reading about business and facing what went wrong and untangling what I believed to be true and what was true.
-And knowing knowledge is good. Experience is good. Practice is necessary.

[*attached to the want post]

TAST Group Resuming

2009-06-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

Note to self --> The TAST Challenge is restarting on July 7th. The stitch is the Bullion Knot (instructions) and it's week 27. Look here for ideas.

Small Stitches

2009-06-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

I love pouches. Little ones, big ones, tied ones. One's hanging on a rope for a necklace. Lunch bag bandanna ones tied to the end of a stick. White embroidered cotton handkerchief tied up ones filled with coins for Sunday School collection.

This one's a little roughly made. Came together [a little stressfully] in between lil Man's cries, lil Mama's demands and many a talking mouth.

I was inspired by Gerdiary.

This is supposed to be for yesterday's new theme 'Small Stitch Saturday', but I'm late.
↓
Small Stitch Saturday
a weekly project
small object

Artwork Friday

2009-06-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

Of course, I borrowed this theme day idea from the wonderful Illustration Friday, but since I don't want to participate in the activities, I thought I would make a version just for me.

This rough draw is part of a page of ideas as a prayer cloth for a loved one going through problems. It is St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe. He is a patron of drug addicts, families, journalists, prisoners, amateur radio, pro-life movement. St. Maximilian please pray for my loved one. †

Boxes of Windows

2009-06-25T15:36:00.000-07:00

Maybe little windows to put something in. Little pictures of places. Little stamps come to mind. Maybe some faces. Trees, mountains, desert brush. I've been sitting here staring at it, wondering.

Stories / A Letter to Me

2009-06-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

"We were not sent into this world to do anything into which we can not put our heart."
-John Ruskin
- - -
I've been browsing and reading two blogs gapingvoid and wishjar. Both of these blogs have helped me clarify my creative endeavor. I have a need for a tradition, a family tradition. This tradition, if obtained, would give me the excuse to continue on what my 'rational' side apparently sees as a futile and wasteful exercise. In short, a valid reason to do what I would like to be doing. But I don't have a family tradition, a direct link to the type of creating I like to do. So it explains why inside I have one foot in and one foot out. Why I make excuses to those around me to convince them that my spending hours drawing, writing and sewing make sense.
Through the articles I read on those two websites, I now understand tradition. I am tradition. A direct link to ancestral tradition is missing yes, and others may or may not find the imaginings I have valid, but my voice is valid. And now my voice is valid to me. What I have to say whether it is burnt up, destroyed, never looked at by another living soul is valid.
I realize that the last quilt I made before my recent undertakings was before my first child was born. And that was no accident. Raising my children was all important. My ex-husband discounted my activities, everyone around me telling me what was important. My voice became their voice.
And not to sound like others, I have a story to tell. It is a wise assumption that we all do. I want to tell my story, so I should. That is what makes it valid. I have fear of copying others, of not being original, of being made fun of. I hold back to prevent any ridicule or finger pointing to occur. If I continue to do this, I fear I will die. Wither up and die. My soul is shouting it's purpose, however trivial it may seem. To squelch it at this point is not wise. I can no longer give permission to others or place my fears and insecurities in other mouths to facilitate me in not doing something that is important to me. Whether what I do, is crap or genius is not the point. It is for me.

---

[ 6·29·09 footnote: I'm a little embarrassed by my 'dramatic' expression of emotion here and keep fighting the urge to delete this post, but it's staying. It's pulling out all kinds of hidden emotions that seem to be better dealt with surfaced.]

Scraps

2009-06-20T17:22:00.000-07:00

Last night I started sewing. I pieced together scraps ready to be thrown out. I grabbed a handful, cut them up and sewed them together. I don't know what it's going to be, if anything at all.

My sis, my near DIL and the kiddies are at a birthday party and I am going to sew as much as I can while I watch a program about China's wildlife.

Template Changes

2009-06-20T00:05:00.000-07:00

I was again inspired by spirit cloth. I moved my columns around and realized, at least for me, the posts seem easier to read.

Another Spot

2009-06-16T12:05:00.000-07:00

Well I started another blog. I am going to see if it flows well. It is for me experimenting with my day dreams about textiles, color and forms.

I also found the ColourLovers website by way of a Pin Tangle post several nights ago and I am addicted. My user name is cottonseed.

Barred

2009-06-13T01:45:00.000-07:00

I could not figure out how to stitch the barred chain. I worked on it last night and at various times today. I was frustrated, but determined to figure it out. I had to sit down in front of the computer with the page open and read step by step to finally make the stitch. And it is a beautiful stitch that I am glad that I did not give up on. I also made the up and down buttonhole, and a couching using the twisted chain. Now I am working on the bonnet stitch and the oyster. The bonnet is already giving me grief. I think I am going to have sit in front of the computer for the rest of the stitches. It would make sense and lessen the work and frustration.

I am thinking of starting another blog. I think I may have too many already, but I am inspired by the What If blog. I don't know if I need a separate place to experiment, but it feels like I do. I think I will sit on it for a minute to see if it is just me superficially *osmosing again.

I would like to post photos of what I've done so far, but I am a horrible picture taker and take my photos with my cellphone. I get tired of them looking different than they do in my hands.

I think I am really physically tired and am currently wearing my grey-cloud coloured glasses.

Exhaused, Yet...

2009-06-11T23:59:00.000-07:00

I'm exhausted yet I am still thinking about my sewing work. I realize I have not gotten anything done for the past two days and I'm sad. I'd usually feel bad about myself, but I think the previous post and a lot of self-talk helped me feel differently this time. Besides my little nieces are here, they are getting to know their cousins, and we are having a good ol' time.

I've thought more on the questions I gave myself earlier and have come up with answers that work for me right now for the first ones in the list. Another addition also came up in the process that I am adding.

I think I will keep all the answers and any new questions on the original post, and put a link to the post in the sidebar so I can [hopefully] keep it in the front of my mind.

The Want

2009-06-11T15:56:00.000-07:00

I constantly want to be creative. That want really is constant. I imagine myself in an extra-bedroom-type studio holed up starting/working on/finishing up numerous endeavors. But for me this is can be a source of pain. It takes me out of the present and I start to have unrealistic desires that conflict with day to day life. I am forcing myself to learn a balance since the life I live does not accommodate this (and I think there are not too many people that it would). I'm sure many struggle with this. I've read many places where people have written about this over the years. And living life is an excellent thing... I believe it's what were here to do [duh]. So...

I am now thinking of a good process that will work for me and to lead me to a creative harmonious artistic environment.

What would satisfy me creatively daily? -- 30 min. minimum uninterrupted creative activity (avg. 3hrs. 30min weekly time) / activities suitable > actual work on piece, designing a piece, free drawing/doodling, starting a piece, listing out the necessaries for a piece
What would satisfy me creatively weekly? -- a progression of at least 4 steps which can include 4 steps within the same area of work
Monthly? -- at least 1 and 1/2 projects completed
Quarterly?
Yearly? -- at least 8 projects completed
What are the different :art:types I like to work with? -- hand quilting, hand sewing, bookbinding, embroidery, crochet, knitting
What are the tools, space, time and materials needed for each type?
How will I embark on new types that I come across (materials, tools, space and time wise)? -- I will put them on a "shelf" list so I can have time to think about them and to decide and feel if it is truly something I want to try or a whim [6·19·09]
How will I decide to embark on these new types? -- by feeling/emotion, by cost, practicality, space constraints [6·19·09]
How will I decide which ones I put more focus on?
How will I deal with interruptions? (even though I am not currently working on something, as I am typing this, I have been interrupted at least 5 or 6 times for juice, food, help with the tv, etc. -- this is typical) -- still no satisfactory answer [6·19·09]
What do I need to make sound and harmoniously constructed work? -- knowledge, practice, investigation, inspiration
How will I work around the constraints of my living arrangements? -- scaling down, good storage system, organization [6·19·09]

Right now, things are so willy nilly that I get (and in the past, have gotten) little accomplished. I many times even stop myself before I start because it just seems so hard to get organized to be able to sit with a single train of thought. This environment also makes me just want to finish the work out of frustration and not having a clear head.

This seems like a start. I feel as if I can get this down and acquire a GIANT playpen with food and water dispensers to put everyone in, it just may work. :o)

[edit 6/12/09 - new additions : answers / this is just a guideline for me. Will be open for changes as I see the matching up of the reality of how I work, with how I think I work.]

Sampler Beauty

2009-06-10T02:37:00.000-07:00

I've never really looked closely at samplers. I'd seen them before, but they did not register since I never saw myself making one. They were out of my realm of what I thought I needed to pay attention to. Well I just came across this site with early period examples and I am flabbergasted. They are so beautiful! What I was doing before... just won't do anymore. I was just putting the stitches on the fabric until I felt I got the hang of them somewhat and then moved on. I may not do all the stitches this way, that seems WAY too overwhelming. Maybe I will just start out with 2 or 3 I'd like to do and see how that goes. Uh oh, I already feel frustrated... hmmm. I am feeling that crazy perfectionist-I-can-never-measure-up-so-I-will-sabotage frustration. I will see what happens.

Wow my own crazy thought process spelled right out. Anxiety over what? Oh well, no embarrassment over it, no dwelling on it. I am human.

Found More Photos

2009-06-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

Doll quilt from scraps and play aprons I made for my nieces. 2007

Lost Accounts

2009-06-08T22:10:00.001-07:00

I am always losing online accounts... I know I have at least 3 Flickr Accts and probably about 15 email accounts and probably 8 or 9 blogs. I leave them alone so long, that I forget where they are.

I found one old Flickr Acct. tonight and thought I'd post some photos of things I made (from 2006):

This was a purse I made for my daughter called "Pippy's Pet Shop". Front pocket is a storefront scene and the flap, a roof. Why Pippy? Haven't got a clue.

A pop tart coin purse for my niece made from felt.

An Owl Print Diaper Bag that my niece is now using as a purse. Made from the softest sky blue and beige owl print baby sheets. And below a matching coin wallet.

Embroidery of a beautiful lady.

9 patch star purse.

TAST Stitch Work

2009-06-08T21:07:00.001-07:00

I am learning so much about stitches and I am having a really great time doing it. So far I've gone through --

Week 1 Herringbone Stitch,

week 2 Buttonhole,

week 3 Detached Chain Stitch,

week 4 Cretan Stitch,

week 5 Chevron stitch,

week 6 Algerian Eye Stitch

week 7 Feather Stitch,

week 8 Fly Stitch,

week 9 Cross Stitch

The pictures above are the samplers, minus the Chevron Stitch through the Cross Stitch. I forgot to take the other ones.

(I found a bag of embroidery thread and a small hoop in my sewing box... yay for color!)

Herringbone Sampler

2009-06-07T14:34:00.000-07:00

This was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I had a hard time keeping the parallel stitches even and I realized at the end that I did not understand the symmetry of how the stitches laid themselves out. This was a really good exercise for me and I am going to do another sampler for this stitch.

I tried several variations (for future ref)-- (clockwise from the bottom) couching over cotton yarn, regular, different sizes, one stitch under another making U shape, 2 threads and at center 2 rows of regular with thread weaved in.

And I still only have the two cotton threads, the beige cotton yarn and the muslin to work with.

ATC Info

2009-06-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here is a link for the Textile Artists Trading Cards

Tutorial @ Lady Jane's Journal

Herringbone

2009-06-06T21:19:00.000-07:00

Week one on the TAST Challenge was Herringbone Stitch (also instructions here), so I will fiddle around with that for the evening and take a look at the next 3 stitches for that first month, since I am starting out (((way))) late anyway.

week 2 Buttonhole
week 3 Detached Chain Stitch
week 4 Cretan Stitch

Stitchin Fingers

2009-06-06T20:29:00.000-07:00

Yay! I just joined Stitchin Fingers and I am looking around at the groups and it all looks fun. I came across a group called Bargello People and it concerns Bargello Needlepoint. I've never heard of this and I am interested to look around and find out more. [ref: http://bargelloneedlepoint.com/]

I joined 2 groups Take a Stitch Tuesday to learn more embroidery stitches and Textile Artists Trading Cards to meet and interact with new people :o). I think that is good for now so I can actually participate and not get in over my head.

Building Coasters

2009-06-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

Roller Coaster Tycoon wakes up brain cells. At least it did mine. [kinda crazy eh? I would guess it could have been any 'god/creator' game]

Dormant patterns of thinking are :partially: awake. I didn't really realize/remember they were asleep, to tell the truth. I can see visions of created images in my head very vividly now. I see the creative process working, while it's working, and am not stressed (((out))) on it [not over thinking it]. The creative process has become more dominant than the thinking process, even if it is ever so slightly. Wonderful surprise... I am actually interested in the goal and how to have fun getting there. I truly had lost the desire* to have a goal. Meandering was it. Well let me not say was... I am a meandering sort of person. Now I hope to meander over to the finish line and hopefully not lose too much steam and be able to cross.

I am excited.

*maybe that not caring was a part of my empty nest sickness.

Inspired

2009-06-05T17:46:00.000-07:00

After visiting Spirit Cloth last night I became inspired to do some sewing. I've been wanting to do a sun in some type of textile work. I only had the image I wanted to re-create, not the medium. I had been thinking of putting it on the cover of a book and still may. This representation did not come out like the image I had at all. I don't have many of my supplies with me, so I worked with what I have... some unbleached muslin, cotton quilting thread, red and white cotton crochet thread.

:celebrating the 5 directions:

hmmm

2009-06-05T02:30:00.000-07:00

Am I doing to much??? If not, then this will be used for my stitched stuff... I also have a fascination with handsewing... hey that ties into my bookbinding^^ :light bulb goes on: